AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Municipal Agreement Between the Town and the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Biennial Bridge Inspections
DATE: September 26, 2005
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to execute a Municipal Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for biennial inspection of Town bridges.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Federal Aid Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program requires that all structures defined by the Federal Government as "bridges" located on public roads must be inspected every two years in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
Nineteen designated structures requiring inspection now exist on local public streets within the Chapel Hill Town Limits, as indicated on Attachment 1. The last inspection was completed in the spring of 2004. Therefore, the Town is due for another inspection of applicable structures in the spring of 2006, on the required two-year cycle.
The federal program provides funds to cover 80% of the inspection costs, which are approximately $2,600 per structure. Thus, the estimated cost to the Town for inspection of the 19 designated structures would be $9,880, with the remainder of the costs being paid by federal funds administered by the State.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation Bridge Unit has agreed to inspect, analyze, and prepare the necessary reports for the Chapel Hill structures in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards. Upon completion of the inspections, the State would invoice the Town for 20% of the actual costs. The Engineering Department operating budget includes the necessary funds for the bridge inspections.
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to execute a municipal agreement between the Town and the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the inspection of 19 bridge structures located on public streets within the Town Limits, with the Town being responsible for 20% of the actual cost of the inspections.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execute a Municipal Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for bridge inspections.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Map and Bridge List (p. 3).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR INSPECTION OF TOWN BRIDGES (2005-09-26/R-7)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has requested the Department of Transportation to perform certain work under the Federal Aid Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, said work to consist of the reinspection and analysis of all public bridges on the Municipal Street System in the Town of Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill proposes to enter into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for said work wherein the Department of Transportation will reinspect and prepare the necessary reports for all public bridges on the Municipal Street System in accordance with National Bridge Inspection Standards; and
WHEREAS, under the proposed agreement the Federal Highway Administration shall reimburse the Department of Transportation for eighty (80%) percent of the cost of the work subject to compliance with all applicable federal policy and procedural rules and regulations; and
WHEREAS, under the proposed agreement the Town of Chapel Hill shall reimburse the Department of Transportation for all costs of the work incurred by the Department of Transportation not paid by the Federal Highway Administration;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to execute a Municipal Agreement between the Town of Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Department of Transportation for bridge inspections as described herein.
This is the 26th day of September 2005.